US warships sail through Taiwan Strait as China tensions surge

US warships sail through Taiwan Strait as China tensions surge

Multiple Chinese warships shadowed the two US vessels during the transit in a move certain to anger Beijing.

The USS Curtis Wilbur and USS Antietam conducted a routine transit on Monday to demonstrate US commitment "to a free and open Indo-Pacific", Commander Nate Christensen, deputy spokesman for US Pacific Fleet, said in a statement.

"The US Navy will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows," he said.

Multiple Chinese warships shadowed the two US vessels during the transit, following at a safe distance. There was no immediate comment from China.